Buttonhole technique

[sydnie7]

1. Have you seen the inner strap technique that Matt Newsome uses, which eliminates the buttonhole? There are some threads discussing it, and it is shown on his website here.

2. If you really want the traditional outer strap with buttonhole, I would investigate a technique called bound buttonhole. It is a classic tailoring technique that creates a beautifully finished and very durable opening. Here are some instructions, although I haven't reviewed them carefully, they should give you the general idea.

[Barb T]

1. Have you seen the inner strap technique that Matt Newsome uses, which eliminates the buttonhole?

The instructions for how to do this are in the manuscript that Matt and I wrote on making a box pleated kilt. You can find the links to download the manuscript (for free!) at:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/m...x.html?t=43498

With regard the the original question of this post, sure, you could stitch a machine or bound buttonhole into the lining fabric before stitching it onto the kilt by hand. In fact, it's such a good idea, I think I'll try it myself (although I'm going to try a bound buttonhole, because it's more in keeping with the handstitched look of the kilt). And, with respect to the instructions that Sydnie posted, if I were going to do a bound buttonhole in the kilt lining, I'd omit the two "lips" of the bound buttonhole and stop after step #5 of the instructions.

Having said that, I've been wearing my kilt for 5 or 6 years to countless band things, and my slash-and-stitch buttonhole isn't raveling in the least, nor are there any loose threads. So, the instructions in The Art of Kiltmaking should allow you to make a perfectly sturdy slash-and-blind-stitch buttonhole.

[mycoleptodiscus]

What I ended up with was perfectly satisfactory, i.e. the slash and stitch works fine. I think I would wish to stay with teh traditional approach. I was just considering a way to make it a bit more tidy.